Carlisle have had to pull out of today’s North One West game at Glossop because they haven’t enough front row forwards.
An increasing injury list has left the city side struggling in various areas but the crucial shortage of front-rowers has been the final straw.
Club secretary Bill Glendinning said: “Unfortunately we are unable to travel to today’s match at Glossop.
“We are unable to fulfil the regulations regarding the number of front row forwards for the match and so cannot start the game.
“We apologise to Glossop since we know they were looking forward to playing us for the first time.
“Unfortunately as supporters will have been all too aware, our increasing injury list has caught up with us, with ten of our regular front row on the active injury list and not fit to play this weekend, and the few left, unable to travel due to work commitments.
“The league have informed us this will result in a five point deduction and the match will not be rescheduled. It will also mean the home match in April will now be reversed and played at Glossop.”
Carlisle could have lost five points earlier in the season when they declined to travel to Firwood Waterloo on a free League week-end after the original game had been postponed because of Covid.
Nothing has been published as a result but the League table appears to have shown the game being played with no points advantage or deficit to either of the two sides.
